When traveling to California there is always that breath of excitement you take before setting foot on the Golden State, the trill of running around free in the wild wild west. Southern California offers various pleasures to people from all walks of life, this sunshine sees no color and everyone gets love.

In Los Angeles and the surrounding cities you can certainly find something that gets your jollies going, no matter if you are a theme park enthusiast or a strip club connoisseur.

-We got it.

I have a couple friends who love to gamble at casinos across California, so I’ve asked them which are the top 5 best casinos to visit while in Southern California.

Here’s the list of 5 best casinos for your 2017 travel

5. Hawaiian Gardens Casino

Located at 11871 Carson St, Hawaiian Gardens, CA.

Hawaiian Gardens Casino recently underwent a serious $90 million dollar renovation and expansion project and opened earlier this year. The old 59,500-square-foot casino has been remodeled with a modern and very appealing 200,000-square-foot gaming, dining, and entertainment complex.

For the serious poker players or even the amateurs who want to try cashing out on their beginners luck, the Gardens Casino offers a full spectrum of no-limit games, starting at $20 and $40 buy-in no-limit hold’em, ranging up to $500-$1,500. As of the moment, the casino also offers smaller buy-in daily tournaments and the occasional $100,000 and $150,000 guaranteed prize pool events. Worth checking out.

For more info visit their website thegardenscasino dot com.

4. The Bicycle Hotel & Casino

Located at 888 Bicycle Casino Dr. Bell Gardens, CA 90201

The casino here is astonishingly bigger than you would expect, and if you specifically like card games this is the place you want to be in, seriously theres only card games but various types of games.

-Not a slot machine in sight

Also you get free food when you play at the $100-$200 buy in no-limit tables. Food prices at this location are very good either way. The Korean BBQ here is amazing and taste very authentic. There has been in noticeable change in the casino as it has went under recent upgrades in the interior. Overall a very nice spot to get your poker face on. Don’t forget to swoop a drink from the brewery.

3. The Commerce Casino

Located at 6131 East Telegraph Rd, Commerce, CA 90040

The biggest card casino in the world isn’t in Las Vegas. It’s in Los Angeles.

This is by far one of the finest carding casino in the Los Angeles area. Not a bad place to get your experience on the poker tables and get your education up. Arena grills has savory food also.

It’s a clean casino excellent for a night out with friends. The food is delicious, outstanding service, and a huge parking lot. Lots of tables to play, many different games, the dealers are nice and welcoming. There are other perks that make this joint pretty interesting but the point is if you want to play cards you can never go wrong here at commerce.

2. San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino

Located at 777 San Manuel Blvd Highland, CA 92346

One of my personal favorites, only because of the vast memories this place has provided. This casino is located in Highland, Ca, a small neighboring city to San Bernardino, CA about 45 minutes east of Los Angeles on the I10 freeway.

This casino is always very alive and vivid, Fridays and Saturdays it gets fairly crowded. I have a few friends employed here which makes every visit very welcoming so I can say San Manuel has friendly employees and no to mention the payout. My last time here I won $400 after I stuck a $100 dollar bill in a slot when I was walking out.

Valet parking is the way to go its only $3. If you’re new to betting on slot machines remember to bet the minimum to avoid losing all your money to fast and maximize potential earning. If this is your first time here then you should sign up for a free players card since you get to spin a wheel which most likely you will get $20 free slot extra credit.

Good luck though finding an open slot machine that you like. There is no cellular signal or reception for your phone in this place but they offer free uncapped WIFI 24/7 for free you can connect to.

I enjoy coming to San Manuel and if you’re in the SoCal area give it a try, you won’t regret it.

1. Pechanga Resort & Casino

Located at 45000 Pechanga Pkwy Temecula, CA 92592

I just want to add a quick important fact:
There’s a few pokestops here. So if you’re looking for Pokemon on Pokemon Go you’re in luck. Not that I play that stuff or anything, wink-wink.

I love how classy the vibe is when you enter through the valet and how all the employees are so amicable, I feel as if this Resort is a second home. When you are here you are family. This is by far one the most immaculate casinos I’ve been to. Why even bother with Vegas when this hidden gem is so close to home. Only about another 45 minute from San Manuel on the 215 south towards San Diego. The food here is exquisite, there is a gorgeous tree surrounded by gorgeous waterfalls. If your not the gambling type their is a dope Spa&Saloon to check out. Everyone gets treated like VIP here. Lots and lots of slot machines. They have poker rooms, high stake limit slots, a live show theatre, buffet and food court.

If you have a chance to check it out on your 2017 travels or trips make sure you do and you will see what I am talking about. It’s worth the 2 hour drive (depending on traffic) if you are coming from Los Angeles.

The important thing that most should remember about addictions to gambling or anything else is that if you don’t start you won’t be caught. Many are so addicted that they steal from workplaces, neighbours, and friends, to feed their craving. Like any drug it is so entwined in their need for excitement or relief from boredom that nothing else matters. It has led many down a path to prison and even suicide.

As an observer of human behaviour from an early age the way people fall into errors of judgment has intrigued me for decades. It seems that their intellect is somehow marred and beyond their control. They are incapable of taking a good hard look at themselves and the effect on their family and others.

The world is a strange but powerful force and when people are led to addictions others grow wealthy. Money is the key and those who run casinos and venues where losses are incurred by gamblers are laughing all the way to the bank.

That should be a wake-up call but instead it would appear that many are bent on self-destruction. It’s like they are challenging themselves to survive where other fail. A slight win will often lead them straight back to the gaming tables and before they know it they are down the inevitable chute to poverty, even homelessness.

How many are now sleeping on the streets of major cities because of such a habit? How many are divorced and away from their children or are now serving time for theft because of it? Surely something should be done by governments to stop this drain and prevent human suffering that occurs as a result.

It doesn’t happen, however, because it is treated as a business by the tax office. Revenue from gambling helps support the economy so what does it matter if a few can’t handle it.

Following my reincarnation and with a strong link to the Spirit it is impossible for me to partake of anything that has to do with luck. For me it is a fanciful dream that only a very few may experience. But even those who win a fortune are often the worse off because of it.

Money is evil and the desire to have more of it is against the Spirit. It is punishing those who pursue wealth and many of the richest are among the unhappiest. The bottom line is that when people turn their attention to the little voice within and follow its lead they will be lead onto a different path that leads away from the danger of gambling.

Here’s why it’s important to know the house edge, which is the amount of money the casino expects to win from you over time when you play the games. The bigger the edge, the more they win. The smaller the casino advantage the longer your money may last. You are at risk for a quicker loss on any type of bet within a game that has a house edge of more than 2%.

Here is the house edge, AKA casino advantage, for some of the most popular gambling games in casinos today:

Roulette

There are 38 numbered positions that players can wager on in a number of ways. Betting a single number and winning will net you a payoff of 35 to 1. Therefore the casino makes a 2 unit profit for each win. 2/38 = 5.26% advantage for the house. Your expected loss over time is $5.26 for every $100 wagered. on a single number.

Craps

Type of bet Edge

Pass Line 1.4%

Place 6, 8 1.5%

Any Seven (one roll wager) 14.36%

Baccarat

Bet Bank. 1.06%

Bet Player 1.24%

Bet Tie 14.38%

Basic Blackjack

By far the best table game as long as the player uses correct basic strategy and the house offers favorable rules such as:

Blackjack pays 3 to 2

Dealer stands on soft seventeen

Double after splitting pairs

Double on any 2 cards

Re-split pairs

Surrender allowed

Look for these rules and you’ll enjoy a house edge of about 0.5%.

It’s worth noting that many casinos have switched to hitting soft 17. This increases the edge to 0.7% but it’s still a good game. Be aware of games that pay only 6 to 5 for a player blackjack instead of the customary 3 to 2. Simply put, a 3/2 game nets a player $15 for a $10 bet, whereas a 6/5 game only pays $12. That’s a -$3 loss for every blackjack! Not good. Unfortunately, the Vegas strip is converting to 6/5 games.

Blackjack Variants

Two low edge blackjack variants are:

Spanish 21. 0.7%

Blackjack Switch 0.6%

Carnival Games

Remember the infamous words of the carnival showman P.T. Barnum? ” There’s a sucker born every minute”. A number of games are dubbed carnival games because of a higher house edge than the traditional offerings of blackjack and baccarat. They are:

Texas Holdem Bonus 2.0%

Three Card Poker 2.3%

Ultimate Texas Holdem 2.5%

Four Card Poker 2.8%

Casino War 2.9%

Crazy 4 Poker 3.4%

Let it Ride 3.5%

Mississippi Stud Poker 4.9%

Caribbean Stud Poker 5.2%

Also, be mindful of the optional bonus or side bets at the tables. Most games have them, including those with a low edge.The winning payout amounts look very attractive and players can win even if the original wager is lost to the house. However the house edge jumps to double digits on most of these wagers.

Sports Gambling

When betting on sports games, the house takes a “vig”, slang for vigorish, when bettors make an even money wager. For example, a $10 bet on the Buffalo Bills, vs. the Miami Dolphins will cost $11. Player wins $10, the house keeps $1.

Slot Machines

It seems the everybody loves the penny slots these days. Multi-coin, multi-line with striking themes, graphics and bonus features. Players can wager as little as fifteen cents up to three or four dollars per spin. the edge on the pennies ranges between 10 & 15%! The hold on dollar and higher machines is much lower, ranging from 2 to 5%. If you’re going to bet max on the pennies, you’re better off playing the bucks.

If you like machines study up on video poker. Learn how to read the pay tables that are posted on each machine. There is a skill element to video poker. Choosing the right game can drop the house edge to less than 1%. Good Luck!

The game of Roulette originated in France and over the years this game became famous across the world. In the Roulette System we need to spin the fortune wheel and throw the dice on a table spinning in the opposite direction to that of the fortune wheel. The roulette table has different colored pockets and the roulette player observes the dice, place a bet and waits for it to lose momentum as it falls in one of the several colored pockets. The player can place a bet on a number or a group of numbers, on a color red or black, or on numbers that are either even or odd. The bets are classified as either inner bets or outer bets. There exist a number of such bets in the standard Roulette Bets page of the roulette website. There are many Roulette Strategies to win the game. However any roulette strategy does not guarantee a win.

How to win at Roulette is the question that pervades the mind of players interested in the game. To them there are some tips that the player should follow. Firstly practice a lot. Remember that practice makes a man perfect and the same is applicable in Roulette too. More you practice Roulette using the different strategies more will be your chances of winning in the game. Secondly while playing roulette always play the European format of the game and always avoid playing the American format. The reason is quite simple. The American roulette has 38 slots, the European roulette has 37 slots. Remember that in European Roulette there are greater chances of a win and less is the odds of the game as compared to its American counterpart.

Roulette is a game that is often favored by luck. However by adopting the strategies of the game and playing the game according to the rules you can always increase your chances of winning. Another aspect of the game is that always play the game in those casinos where they are famous and branded. Always look for low odds and high payouts while playing. Almost all casinos offer payout bonuses but it is always advisable to avoid payout bonuses while you play the game. If you want to win at roulette or if you at least want to make your chances of win at roulette large then always choose outside bets while picking the winning number in roulette.

However some important strategies that you can adopt while playing roulette are the Pivot roulette strategy. Remember that this is a game of luck and adoption of a strategy or a group of strategies only increases the chances of a win.

Dealer Bluff Six Card Poker is a poker variant table game which is distinctive. The dealer makes the first move and players react to what he or she does. Be aware that the dealer could occasionally bluff, but if you have poker tell expertise that won’t help because an electronic card reader that’s programmed to operate randomly, makes all the decisions to bluff, or not to bluff.

How to Play

Players must first make equal ante and blind bets. The dealer gives six cards face down to each and to him or herself. The dealer bets first, with the option to bet 1X, 2X, or 3X the player’s ante. The electronic card reader will then announce the dealer’s wager amount. Typically the dealer bets more with a strong hand and less with a weak hand, but keep in mind that the dealer will occasionally bluff. The objective is to beat the dealer with a better five card poker hand.

After the dealer bets, players have the option to fold (lose the ante and blind wagers) or call (make a play wager equal to the dealer’s), or raise (double the dealer’s bet). the cards are then turned face up to determine the winner(s).

Results

If the dealer has less than a pair, the ante wager is a push. All other bets receive action. If the dealer wins, the player’s ante, play, and blind bets lose. If the player wins, the ante and play bets pay even money. The blind bet pays according to the following table:

Hand Payout

Royal Flush – 500/1

Straight Flush – 50/1

Four of a Kind – 15/1

Full House – 4/1

Flush – 3 /1

Straight – 1.5/1

3/Kind – 1/1

All Other – Push

A tie between the dealer and the player is a push.

Optional Wagers

Aces Up – This optional bet pays the following even if the player loses the hand to the dealer:

Hand Payout

Royal Flush – 200/1

Straight Flush – 50/1

Four of a Kind – 30/1

Full House – 8/1

Flush – 7/1

Straight – 6/1

Three of a Kind – 4/1

Two Pair – 2/1

Pair of Aces – 1/1

Two Way Bad Beat – This option pays the following if the dealer or player has a pair of aces or better and loses. No matter who wins the hand, the player s always a winner if a bad beat occurs, unless there is a tie:

Hand Payout

Straight Flush – 10,000/1

Four of a Kind – 5,000/1

Full House – 500/1

Flush – 200/1

Straight – 100/1

Three of a Kind – 35/1

Two Pair – 10/1

Pair of Aces – 9/1

House Edge and Strategy

The house edge for the initial hand is about 1.7%, optional Aces Up and Bad Beat wagers are about 6.2% and 10.6% respectively.

The recommended strategy from the experts is: If the dealer wagers 1X – fold with a K-J-8 or less, raise with a pair of 3′s or better, call on all other hands. If the dealer raises 2X – fold with a pair of 6′s or lower, raise with a pair of 10′s or better, call on all other hands. If the dealer raises 3X – fold with a pair of 9′s or less, raise with a pair of Kings or better, call on all other hands.

We were there right outside this grandiose building in Monte Carlo. My to young children and I had flown to Italy a few days earlier and it was our first trip to Europe. As an Australian mum rather naïve about European uppishness, some might call it snobbishness, we parked the car opposite and marched up to the door expecting to be let in. After all we were tourists and in a rush to see whatever the country had to offer.

We had already visited the pink palace and the Napoleon Museum, which was a great attraction for the youngsters. As they were just 9 and 10 years of age they knew nothing about any of the characters whose history and likenesses were on display. But my son was greatly impressed with the emperor’s weapons and the horse he was riding.

We got some nice souvenirs and looked over the inside of the palace. This type of luxury is not something we think too highly of, especially as we have no class distinction at home. So why would someone want all of this luxury and waste of money to support their life-style.

Monte Carlo is a small place and everything seems over the top as far as wealth is concerned. The Casino is no different. Of course it was frequently used in movies and there is song about breaking the bank of Monte Carlo, all of which was in my mind when we confronted the doorman who barred our entrance.

Was it our dress, or lack of it? It was hot and we had come from the Australian winter so we were wearing shorts and T-shirts. On our feet were the thongs that were the best and coolest for travelling in the car. Maybe we didn’t look the part as the patrons coming and going were dressed in suits and ties. Maybe it was the age of the children. We never did find out as we felt rejected and was told we could not enter.

Oh well! We wore the same get-up inside the Vatican and no one objected. Later it occurred to me that as an unescorted female, a crime in Europe at that time, with two young kids in toe, we must have looked completely out-of-place. They didn’t know us and we certainly did not get to know them. In a way, looking back at it, that doorman did us a huge favour because it was not a place that a spiritual person like me should ever enter.

Norma Holt has knowledge that enables her to understand many issues. Political, social and behavioural problems are usually on her list for discussion as well as anything to do with the Spirit of the Universe and reincarnation, which she experienced. She is happy to hear from any of her readers.

The catholic Church is hungry for money and it apparently doesn’t care where it comes from. In a recent report on the properties it owns in Rome alone the income is staggering. Some of the premises are used as brothels, others as gambling venues, and still others are highly priced homes and guest houses. The incredible portfolio of properties globally is too huge to even contemplate.

When Constantine, the Roman Caesar who established the religion in 325 AD, passed a law to encourage people to donate their wealth to the church it set it up to become the richest business in the world. Its income rivals that of the United States and its power grows with its wealth.

Gambling is a curse on families and communities and yet the Catholic Church operates gambling houses in the Australian Capital Territory. These are mainly the Southern Cross Clubs, of which there are 5 such premises. They contain poker machines, gaming, grog, and other things. The cubs are run as not-for-profit businesses, that means they pay no tax. They also have gambling in their schools by way of raffles, bingo, and other things.

While the organisation gets away with it the clubs are reaping in millions. The story is that they donate to local sporting clubs, social clubs, and community groups, but these are also involved with the religion. It’s a great ring-around-the-rosy way of raising more funds for the Vatican.

The incredible tales of fancy the latter spreads around could drive people mad trying to figure it out. Government’s, however, allow it to escape notice while the public continues to be fooled. Gamblers are encouraged to spend big and many lose their homes and families because of it. They are probably then given hand-outs of second-hand clothes and goods by one of the Catholic charities that pay nothing for them but make money selling them on.

Norma Holt has knowledge that enables her to understand many issues. Political, social and behavioural problems are usually on her list for discussion as well as anything to do with the Spirit of the Universe and reincarnation, which she experienced. She is happy to hear from any of her readers.

What’s unique about Criss Cross Poker is that there are two ways to win with one hand. The objective of this poker table game is to have a winning five card poker hand which pays according to a poker ranking pay table. The dealer does not play. A standard 52 card deck is used. Before play begins, players must first make two ante bets of equal size, one in the across betting circle and one in the down betting circle. An optional 5 card bonus bet is also available that pays according to the total poker ranking in the 5 card community hand.

The dealer gives each player two hole cards face down and places five community cards face down in a cross pattern. Three horizontal and three vertical. Based on the value of player’s hole cards, the following action takes place:

Player may make an across bet from 1X to 3X the ante or fold the hand.
Dealer exposes the two outside cards on the horizontal row of the cross.
Player may make a down bet from 1X to 3X the ante or fold the hand.
Dealer then exposes the two outside cards on the vertical column.
Player must then make a middle bet from 1X to 3X the ante of fold.

After the middle card is exposed, the players use their hole cards to make two five card poker hands, one across and one down. The middle bet pays according to the ranking of the across and down hands according to the following pay table:

Winning Pay table

Royal Flush – 500/1

Straight Flush – 100/1

Four of a Kind – 40/1

Full House – 12/1

Flush – 8/1

Straight – 5/1

Three of a Kind – 3/1

Two Pair – 2/1

High Pair (J-A) – 1/1

Low Pair (6-10) – Push

All Other – Loss

Optional Bonus Pay Table

Royal Flush – 250/1

Straight Flush – 100/1

Four of a Kind – 40/1

Full House – 15/1

Flush – 10/1

Straight – 6/1

Three of a Kind – 4/1

Two Pair – 3/1

Pair of 6′s or Better – 1/1

All Other – Loss

Strategy and House Edge

Here is the recommended strategy:

Across Bet

Fold if your hole cards are unsuited, unpaired, and the highest card is 2-5. If you have a suited Jack-Queen or any pair, make the 3X raise. With all other cards, make the 1X bet.

Down Bet – The same applies to the down hand. You have already seen the two across cards which may assist you with your wagering options.

Middle Bet – You have now seen fou community cards from the deck. If you made at least one 3X bet, do not fold.

The house edge is calculated at about 4.3%, and 3.5% for the optional bonus wager.